Wiping and polishing device for intaglio printing presses



Aug- 29, 1961 w. F. HUCK 2,997,951

WIPING AND POLISHING DEVICE FOR INTAGLIO PRINTING PRESSES IN VEN TOR.

IFEMl Il WILLMM F. HUCK l Sua/(k1 lm ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 29, 1961 w. F. HUCK 2,997,951

WIPING AND POLISHING DEVICE FOR INTGLIO PRINTING PRESSES Filed Nov. 1. 1957 4 sheets-sheet 2 REED E INVENTOR. WILLIAM F. HUCK BY'OR, IL)

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ATTORNEYS Aug. 29, W. F. HUCK WIPING AND POLISHING DEVICE FOR INTAGLIO PRINTING PRESSES Filed Nov. 1, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. WILLIAM F. HUCK ATTORNEYS.

W. F. HUCK Aug. 29, 1961 WIPING AND POLISHING DEVICE FOR INTAGLIO PRINTING PRESSES Filed Nov. l, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. WILLIAM F. HUCK BY (7M Ma: AMW

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent() Mice 2,997,951 WIPING AND POLISHING DEVICE FOR Il*-lTAGLI IRINTING PRESSES William F. Huck, Forest Hills, N.Y., assigner, by mesne assignments, to William F. Huck, doing business as Huck Company, New York, N.Y.

Filed Nov. 1, 1957, Ser. No. 693,924 22 Claims. (Cl. 101-156) This invention relates generally to intaglio printing presses, and more particularly is directed to a wiping and polishing device for use in connection with such presses.

In presses employing the intaglio printing method, for example, presses of the kind used for printing bonds, currency, stamps and the like, the printing cylinder or plate has engraved lines in the printing area of the surface thereof to carry the printing ink in such engraved lines below the cleaned surface of the printing area, and the paper is pressed against the printing area so that the ink in the engraved lines is lifted by the contact of the paper therewith.

In order to provide ink in the engraved lines of the printing plate or cylinder for transfer, as a design, to the paper subsequently pressed thereagainst, a layer of ink is first applied to the entire printing area, and this ink is wiped clean from the surface of the plate or cylinder to leave ink only in the engraved lines below the surface. However, since intaglio printing usually requires an ink of heavy consistency and viscosity, it is necessary to apply a relatively thickv layer of such ink to the printing surface and to exert a considerable pressure upon the layer of ink in order to ll the engraved lines. Furthermore, the removal of the relatively thick layer 0f viscous ink from the non-printing portions of the surface presents difliculties, in that a considerable force is required to wipe the ink from the surface and, by reason of such force, there is a tendency to pull some of the ink out of the engraved lines,

In some existing intaglio printing presses, mechanical cleaning of the cylinder surface, as distinguished from cleaning with solvents, is effected by pads or belts which force wiping material, for example, wiping rags or paper, against the printing surface. This wiping material is advanced to avoid saturation thereof with ink, and is also reciprocated laterally with respect to the direction of advancement in order to wipe more completely. The wiping material is usually unwound from a supply roll and, after use, is rewound on a take-up roll for convenience in subsequent handling. In these existing arrangements, the means employed for moving the wiping material past the printing surface varies. In many cases, the wiping material is pulled past the printing surface by a traction force acting directly on this material and, since there usually are gaps between adjacent printing areas on the cylinder, provision is usually made for interrupting or relieving the pressure of the wiping material against the printing surface during advancement of the wiping material past such gaps. In other existing devices, the printing area of the intaglio printing cylinder is wiped by a roller or belt which, in turn, is cleaned by wiping material pulled past such roller or belt. In these existing arrangements for wiping ink from an intaglio printing cylinder, the wiping material frequently breaks under the tension necessary for effecting advancement thereof by a pull exerted directly on the wiping material, and, if the pressure and tension are reduced in order to avoid breaking of the wiping material, the printing surface is not adequately cleaned. Further, with the existing arrangements, much expensive ink is wasted by wiping because it must be applied in an excessively heavy layer in order to properly lill the deepest engraved lines of the printing area.

In those existing arrangements where the wiping mate- 2,997,951 Patented Aug. 29, 1961 rial is advanced intermittently, that is, is brought to rest during passage of the gaps between successive plates or printing areas on the cylinder, then a variation of color strength results, because the ink in the engraved lines at the start of a printing area is wiped by clean wiping material and is therefore lighter, while the wiping material is more saturated with ink when it reaches the end of the corresponding printing area so that heavier deposits of ink remain in the engraved lines.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide improved means for wiping clean the printing surface of an intaglio printing cylinder, which avoids the above mentioned disadvantages of existing wiping arrangements and which is effective to reduce the waste of ink and to better fill the engraved lines of the printing area.

Another object is to provide means for cleaning the surface of the printing area of an intaglio printing cylinder by directly contacting wiping material therewith, while avoiding any tendency of such wiping material to break under tension and yet ensuring a completely clean orienting surface with the ink uniformly filling the engraved lines over the entire printing area.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, a strip or web of wiping material is pressed against the surface of the intaglio printing cylinder by a resilient, rotatably driven roller which serves to continuously and smoothly advance the wiping material and to move the latter relative to the surface of the printing cylinder so that superuous ink will be wiped clean from the printing surface and the remaining printing ink in the engraved lines of such surface willbe of uniform consistency.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a wiping and polishing device for intaglio printing presses wherein wiping material is pressed against the printing surface of the intaglio printing cylinder by a resilient roller in order to effect initial wiping of the printing sur- Iface, and the roller is rotated to frictionally advance the wiping material so that clean or unused portions of the latter are presented for use to obtain a uniform wiping action, and wherein other wiping material is similarly pressed against the printing surface and advanced at a different speed in order to eect finish wiping or polishing of the printing surface.

A `further object is to provide wiping means of the described character, wherein the wiping material is drawn from a supply roll and is rewound, after use, upon a suitable t-ake-up rol-l, with the unwinding of the unused wiping material and the rewinding of the used material being effected under conditions of controlled tension thereby to avoid any possibility of breaking of the wiping material.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of invention will be apparent in the -following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein:

FIG. l is a side elevational view of a wiping and polishing ydevice embodying this invention for use in an intaglio printing press, but with the main frames of the press being removed in order to better expose the structure embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is =a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the device embodying this invention, shown partly broken away and in section;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a reciprocation producing device in the wiping and polishing device embodying the present invention;

PIG. 5 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 6--5 of FIG. 4; and

3 PIG. 7 is a. detail sectional view taken along the line r'lua-.7 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIG. l thereof, it will be seen that a wiping and polishing device embodying the present invention, and, there 'generally identified by the reference numeral 10, is iu- Atended for use with an intaglio printing press that includes a printing couple consisting of an impression cylin- -Yder 11 and an engraved plate cylinder 12 which are rotatably mounted for passage of a web 13 of paper therebetween. The `usual ink rollers 14 and 14a are provided' -or applying printing ink to the surface of the plate cylinder 12.

The wiping Iand polishing device includes a shaft 15 .extending horizontally and rotatably mounted between -opposite side frames 16 and 17. Arms 18 and 18a (FIG. 2) extend gener-ally radially from the shaft 15 and are Vclamped `or secured to the latter adjacent the frames 16 and 17, respectively. Generally C-shaped members 20 and 20a are pivotally connected, at their lower ends, to warms 18 and 18a, respectively, by means of pivots 21 and 21a which are carried by the latter intermediate the ends thereof. A second pair of arms 22 and 22a are arranged Vabove arms 18 and 18a, respectively, and are secured, at

one end, to a shaft 24 which extends horizontally above the shaft 14 and is also rotatably mounted, at its opposite ends, in frames 16 and 17. The free ends of arms 22 -and 22a are connected, by pivots 23 and 23a, respectively, to the upper portions of the related C-shaped members '20 and 20a so that, as the arms 18 and 18a and the arms 22 and 22a swing about-the axes of the shafts 1S and 24, respectively, the members 20 'and 20a are moved generally vertically toward and away from the plate or printing cylinder 12.

Parallel, round spacer bars 25 and 26 (FIGS. 1 and 3) extend horizontally between the Gashaped members 20 Aand 20a and are suitably secured, lat their opposite ends, to the latter. A carriage 27 of generally H-shaped y Vconiiguration (FIG. 2') includes parallel side members yducing device, hereinafter described in detail, Yincludes .der 12 (FIG. ,1). As seen in FIG. 3, each of rollers 32 and 33 includes a rigid central shaft 34, a cylindrical body 35 of resilientY material, for example, rubber and the like, and an "outer shell or covering 36 of a resilient material, for exam-ple, rubberY 'and the like, having a hard ness which is greater than that of the cylindrical body 35. VBy virtue of this construction of each roller, the relatively Yhard covering 36 will maintain substantially the same area of wiping actionagainst the plate cylinder varied, the change Yof pressure being attended by -a displacement of the covering 36 relative to the softer body 35 and shaft 34.

'In accordancewith the present invention, webs 37 and against the surf-ace of the plate cylinder 12 by the rollers tical plane containing `the axis of rotation of plate cylin- `i Vwhen the pressure 'of the roller against the cylinder is l 38 of wiping and polishing paper are resiliently pressed` 32 and 33, respectively, for effecting wiping and then polishing of such surface. The web 37 of wiping paper is drawn from a supply or -feed roll 39 thereof which is suitably mounted below the carriage 27 (FIG. l). The web 37 passes fro-m the supply roll 39 under a guide roller 4i) and then upwardly past a guide roller 4t'1 and a guide roller 42 which is rotatably mounted between lthe side members of carriage 27. Aiter passing around the resilient wiping roller 32 the used web 37 of wiping paper moves downwardly `to a take-up roll 43 which is suitably mounted for rotation below the carriage 27. A pressure roller 44 .is yieldably urged against the surface of the supply roll 39 in order to maintain .tension in the web 37 as the latter isv drawn from'the supply roll 39 by the wiping roller 32.

Similarly, the web 38 of polishing paper is drawn from a supply roll 45 and passes under a guide roller 46 before traveling around the polishing Vroller 33. The used web 38 of polishing paper passes from the roller 33 around a guide roller 47 which is rotatably mounted between the side pieces of the carriage 27, and then passes under a guide roller 48 on its Way to a take-up roll 49 which is suitably rotatably mounted at a location near the bottom of the printing press. A pressure roller 50 is also yieldably urged against the surface of the supply roll 45 in order to maintain tension in the web V38 between the supply roll and the polishing roller 33.

Since the wiping and polishing rollers 32 and 33 are pressed against the surface of the plate cylinder 12 and are continuously rotated, in a manner hereinafter described in detail, the webs 37 and 3S are frictionally gripped by the rollers 32 and 33 so that feeding of the webs from the supply rolls 39 and 45 is smoothly etected 'in response to rotation of the wiping and polishing rolls 32 and 33, respectively.

The take-up rolls 43 and 49 for the used webs of wiping and polishing paper preferably have adjustable slip drives associated therewith so that an adjustably constant tension can be maintained in each of used webs 37 and 38 between the related resilient rollers 32 and 33 and the take-up rolls. As shown in FIG. l, a suitable adjustable slip drive for the take-up roll 49 includes an electric motor 51 embodying reduction gearing and slidably mounted on a base plate 52 which is pivoted on a support shaft 53. A V-belt 54 connects a pulley 5S on the output shaft off the reduction gearing of motor 51 with a pulley 56 which is secured on the take-up roll 49 for the used web of polishing paper. A set screw 57 is provided on the motor base 52 for adjusting the motor 51 along the latter, thereby to vary the distance between the centers of the pulleys 55 and S6. A tension spring 58 is connected, at one end, to the pivoted motor base 52 and, at its other end, to a threaded stud 60 which extends through an abutment 61 and is adjusted relative to the latter by a knurled nut 59 on the threaded stud Gil. Thus, by turning the nut 59, the tension in spring 58 can be varied for adjusting the tension in the belt 54. As shown in FIG. 7, the groove 62 of the pulley 56 preferably has a larger cross-section than the belt 54 so that, when the tension in the web 38 of used polishing paper reaches a value determined by the adjustment of 'die tension in spring 58, the belt 54 can slip relative to the pulley 56 to prevent ripping or tearing of the polishing paper during operation.

Although the adjustable slip drive of the take-up roll 43 for the web 37 of used wiping paperis not illustrated in the drawings, it is to be understood that such adjust- Yable slip drive is identical with that described above in connection with the take-up roll 49 for the web 33.

As seen in FIGS. Vl and 2, uid pressure operated cylinders 63 and 63a are suitably mounted below the free ends of arms 18 and 18a, respectively, and have piston rods 64 and 64a extending upwardly therefrom which are pivotally connected, Vat their upper Vends, as at 65 (FIG. l), to the free ends of arms`18 and'18a. Fluid under presesegesi' sure is suitably admitted to cylinders 63 and 63a so that piston rods 64 and 64a exert upwardly directed forces against the arms 18 and 18a, respectively. These upward forces are transmitted, through G-shaped members 20 and 20a, spacer bars 25 and 26 and carriage 27, to the rollers 32 and 33. The dimensions of the arms 18 and 18a, the arms 22 and 22a, the members 20 and 20a and the carriage 27, and the dispositions of the pivotal connections therebetween are selected so that upward displacement of the piston rods 64 and 64a results in upward linear displacement of rollers 32 and 33, thereby to maintain a uniform pressure between the webs 37 and 38 of wiping and polishing paper, respectively, and the surface of plate cylinder 12.

Since the rollers 32 and 33 each have a relatively soft resilient body 35 and Ia harder resilient covering 36, the surfaces of the rollers 32 and 33 will have substantially the same area of pressure against the surface of plate cylinder 12 when pressed against the latter under different pressures by the action of the uid pressure operated cylinders 63 and 63a.

In order to drive the rollers 32 and 33, the wiping and polishing device 1l) embodying the present invention includes a variable speed motor 66 mounted on frame 16 and driving a worm 67 which meshes with a worm gear 68 (FIG. 2) on a shaft 69 rotatable in a bearing 70 carried by the frame 16. A spur gear 71 is also secured on the shaft 69 and meshes with a relatively large spur gear 72 which is rotatable on a stub shaft 73 extending Afrom the adjacent side member 28 of carriage 27 (FIG. 2). Spur gear 72 meshes with a spur gear 74 secured on the shaft 34 of roller 32 for rotating the latter (FIGS. 1 and 3), while a spur gear 75 having a relatively small pitch diameter is secured to the gear 72 for rotation with the latter and meshes with a relatively large spur gear 76 '(FIG. 2) which is rotatable on a stub shaft 77 extending from side member 28 of carriage 27. A relatively small spur gear 78 is secured to the gear 76 for rotation with vthe latter and meshes with a spur gear 79 (FIG. l) rotatably carried by side member 28 and, in turn, meshing with a spur gear 80 on the adjacent end of the shaft of roller 33. The gear train formed by the gears 75, 76, 78, 79 and 80 provides for rotation of the roller 33 in the same direction as the roller 32, as indicated by the arrows on FIG. 1, while the enumerated gears are dimensioned so that the polisher roller 33 will be rotated at a much slower speed than the wiping roller 32. Further, the above described rotational drive for the rollers 32 and 33 is arranged so that even the relatively rapidly rotated roller 32 will have a surface speed which is lower than that of the plate cylinder 12. By reason of the pressure of the rolls 32 and 33 against the webs 37 and 38 at the surface of the plate cylinder 12, and by reason of the relatively high coefficient of friction existing between the resilient covering of the rollers 32 and 33 and the related webs 37 and 38, such webs, which successively wipe and polish the surface of cylinder 12, will be continuously and smoothly advanced at the surface speeds of the related rollers 32 and 33, that is, at different speeds. Preferably, as indicated by the arrows on FIG. l, rollers 32 and 33 and plate cylinder 12 are all rotated in the same direction, for example, in the counter-clockwise direction, as shown, so that, following the application of printing ink to the surface of cylinder 12, such surface iirst moves past web 37 at the location of roller 32, thereby to initially effect removal of the major portion of the excess ink, and thereafter the surface of the plate cylinder moves past web 38 at the location of roller 33 for removing any remaining ink from the non-printing surface of the cylinder 12, thereby to ensure that ink will remain only in the engraved lines of the intaglio printing plate or cylinder. Since the web 37 is relied upon to remove the major portion of the ink layer from the nonprinting surface of the plate cylinder 12, while the web 38 merely provides a nal wiping or polishing action to remove that ink which is left on the non-printing surface by the web 37, it is apparent that the web 37 will become more quickly saturated with ink and must be advanced over the roller 32 at a higher speed than that of the advancement of web 38 over roller 33, in order to ensure that a uniform wiping and polishing action will be obtained, and this relative difference in the advancing speeds of the webs 37 and 38 is achieved by the difference in rotational speeds of the rollers 32 and 33, -as described above.

Fu-rther, as previously indicated, connecting rod 30 serves to impart lateral reciprocation to carriage 27 so that, as webs 37 and 38 advance over the resilient rollers 32 and 33 and wipe the surface of plate cylinder 12, such webs are also laterally reciprocated relative tov the plate cylinder, thereby to improve the wiping and polishing actions thereof.

Preferably, the lateral reciprocation of carriage 27 is effected by a device which is illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 and there generally identified by the reference numeral 81. The reciprocation producing device 81 includes a vertically extending shaft 82 which is rotatably mounted in bearings 83 carried lby supports 84 extending from the frame 17. At its lower end, shaft 82 carries a bevel gear 85 meshing with a bevel gear 86 on a horizontal drive shaft 87 which is rotated by a suitable motor (not shown) A-t its upper end, shaft 82 has a reduced diameter extension 88 which is eccentrically offset relative to the axis of rotation of shaft 82 by a distance d1. Counterweights 89 and 90 are mounted on eccentric extension 88 of shaft 82, and counterweight 89 has a |hub 91 formed with a cylindrical outer surface which is eccentric relative to the axis of the extension 88 by a radial distance d2 and which carries a ball bearing 92 by which the end of connecting rod 30 remote from the pin 31 (FIG. 2) is connected to the hub 91. In order to secure` the ycounterweiglits 89 and 9() onthe extension 88, the combined axial lengths of the hubs of the counterweights are preferably greater than the length of the extension 88, and a clamping plate l93 is provided toabut against the upper end of the hub 91 and to receive a screw 94 which extends into a tapped axial bore in the upper end of extension 88. Thus, when screw 94 is tightened, the hubs of counterweights 89 and are axially clamped between the plate 93 and a radial shoulder 95 defined atV the transition of shaft 82 intoextension 88.

The reciprocation producing device 81 further includes an oscillating mass 96 pivotally connected, `as at 97, to one end of a connecting link 98 which is, in turn, pivotally connected to the connecting rod 30, as at 99, so that the mass 96 lis reciprocated in the direction of the arrows B (FIG. 4) extending at right angles to the direction of reciprocation of carriage 27, as indica-ted by the arrows A, and 90 out 'of phase with respect to the reciprocation of the carriage. The mass 96 may be mounted for reciprocation 4generally in the direction of the arrows B by parallel arms 100 which, at one end, are rockably mounted on vertical pins 101 carried by a support 102 on the frame 17 and, `at the other end, carry vertical pins 103 received in suitable bearings in the mass 96.

It will be seen that the reciprocating motion of carriage 27 is balanced and counter-balanced by means of counterweights 89 and 90 on the extension of shaft 82 and by the reciprocating mass 96 which receives its motion from the connecting rod 30 through the connecting link 98.

In the described reciprocation producing device 81, the distances d1 and d2 are equal so that, by turning the counterweight 89 relative to the eccentric extension 88, the total eccentricity of the bearing 92 with respect to the Aaxis of shaft 82 may be varied between a maximum value equal tothe sum of the distances d1 and d2 and a minimum value of zero, thereby to permit adjustment of the length of the reciprocating stroke of carriage 27. The counterweight 89 is proportioned so that its movement about the center of the eccentric extension 88 automatically pro- 'enamel vides a condition of dynamic balance for any. adjusted length 4of the reciprocating stroke of carri-age ,27. Following such adjustment, the counterweight 89 is locked in position by means of the clamping plate 93 and screw 94, as previously described. Thus, the length of the reciprocating stroke of carriage 27 may be freely adjusted for values between 'zero and the maximum stroke Without disturbing the Vdynamic bal-ance of the device.

The wiping and polishing device embodying this invention further preferably includes a smear bar 104 (FIGS. 1 and 3) extending parallel to the axis of plate cylinder '12 and, being carried adjacent its opposite ends, by arms 105 and 105a which are pivotally mounted, as at 106 and 106a, on'side members 28 and 28a of carriage 27. The smear bar 104 isdisposed between the ink supplying roller 14 and the wiping roller 32 and has a surface conforming to the curvature of the surface of cylinder 12. The bar is also formed, along its edge leading into that 'concave surface, with an ink-entrance surface sloping into its concave surface so that ink brought to itin a thin layer on the surface-of cylinder V12 will be carried between it and the cylinder surface and smeared evenly over the latter and into the engraved lines therein without being scraped oil the cylinder. The bar 104 is urged against the surface of plate cylinder 12 by compression springs 107 and 107a which are interposed between lugs 108 and 108e on the arms 105 and 10511 and abutments 109 and 10911 on the side members of carriage 27. The smear bar 104 operates to distribute and work ink into the engraved lines of the plate cylinder 12 thereby reducing the amount of ink that needs to be applied by the roller 14 to the plate cylinder 12 in order to fill the engraved lines, and correspondingly facilitating the wiping Iand polishing operations and economizing on the amount of wiping and polishing paper required to effect cleaning of the nonprinting surface. Since the bar ,104 is mounted on the carriage 27, itis apparent that the smear bar will also be lreciprocated in the direction of the laxis of cylinder 1 2.

It will 'be apparent that, in the above described embodiment of the invention, the resilient rollers 32 and 33 press the related webs 37 Vand 38 of wiping material against the printing surface of cylinder 12 which .moves past the rollers 32 and 33 in response to rotation of cylinder 12, while the rollers and webs are reciprocated in the direction of the ,axis of the plate cylinder, so that the web 37 iirst urges the major portion of the init layer from the moving printing surface and the web 38 then completes the removal of the ink from that surface. Further, by reason of the rotation of rollers 32 and 33 in frictional engage ment with webs 37 -and 38, the latter are advanced at different speeds to ensure that clean sections of the webs will `be brought to the operative positions at the related rollers as ink is removed by the webs, thereby to obtain uniform wiping and polishing actions.' It will also be seen that the variable speed motor 66 vfor driving the rollers 32 and 33 can be suitably controlled so that the speeds of advancement of webs 37 and 38 will correspond to requirements for proper removal of ink from the printing surface of .cylinder 12. Thus, assuming a constant rotational speed forthe cylinder 12, it will be apparent that an increase in the thickness of the layer of ink applied to the printing surface will require corresponding increases in the speeds of advancementV of Webs 37 `and 38 so that ink saturated Ysections of such webs will not remain in contact with the printing surface, of ink is assumed to be constant, but the rotational speed of cylinder 12 is increased, the rate at which ink has'to be removed from the printing surface will be again increased, and corresponding increases in the speeds of advancement of webs 37 and 38 will be required to maintain the uniformity of the wiping and polishing actions.

lt will also be apparent that the pressure of the duid .supplied -to cylinders 63 and .63a may be adjusted thereby to vary the pressures exerted ,by rollers 32 and 33 yagainst webs 37 ,and 38 for accommodating the respective wiping and polishing .actions to stations nking conditions. Thus,

Similarly, if the thickness of the layer if a heavy, viscous ink is applied to the printingl surface of cylinder 12, the pressures of rollers 32 and 33 against webs 37 and 38 are increased to ensure the proper removal of such heavy, viscous ink from the printing surface'.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: n

1. In an intaglio printing press having a moving printing surface with engraved lines therein and means disposed adjacent the path of movement of the printing surface for applying ink to the latter; the combination of at least one rotatable roller having a resilient surface and disposed adjacent said path of movement with the axis of said roller extending laterally with respect to the direction of movement of the printing surface -along said path, a continuous web of wiping material in the form of a rotatable supply roll, a rotatable take-up roll, means guiding said web from said supply roll, around s aid roller and to said take-up roll, means urging said roller to ward the printing surface to press said web against the latter for removing ink from the printing surface, said roller surface having sufficient frictional engagement with said web to move said web with and yat the peripheral speed of said roller surface, and being sufficiently hard to maintain a substantially uniform area of contact be: tween said web and said `cylinder surface, means continuously and positively rot-ating said roller to effect advancement of said web with the roller by reason of the frictional contact of the latter with said web, thereby to draw the web from said supply roll, and drive means rotating said take-up roll with a predetermined torque to avoid excess tension in said web between said roller and said take-up roll. Y

2. lIn an intaglio printing press having a moving printing surface with engraved lines therein and means disposed adjacent the path of movement of the printing surface for applying ink to the latter; the combination of at least one rotatable roller having a resilient surface axis of said roller extending laterally with respect to the and disposed adjacent said path of movement with the direction of movement of the printing surface along said path, a continuous web of wiping material in the form of a rotatable supply roll, a rotatable take-up roll, means guiding said web from said supply roll, around said roller and to said take-up roll, means urging said roller toward the printing surface to press said web against the latter for removing ink from the printing surface, said roller surface having suicient frictional engagement with said web to move said web with and at the peripheral speed of said roller surface, and being sufciently hard to main.- tain a substantially uniform area of contact between said web and said cylinder surface, means continuously and positively rotating said roller to effect advancement of said web with the roller by reason of the frictional contact of the latter with said web, thereby to draw the -web from said supply roll, means yieldably resisting Withdrawal of said web from said supply roll to establish a predetermined tension in said web between said supply roll and said roller, and adjustable slip-drive means rotating said take-up roll with a limited torque to avoid excess tension in said web between said roller and said takceup roll.

3. l-n an intaglio printing press having a moving printing surface with engravedrlines therein and means disposed adjacent the path of movement of the printing sur;- face for applying ink to the latter; the combination as in claim 2, Vwherein said adjustable slip-drive means includes a first pulleyron said take-up roll, a drive motor, a second pulley driven by said motor, a drive belt connecting said first and second pulleys and being capable Vof .slipping relative to at least one of said pulleys, and

means for adjustably determining the tension in said belt, thereby to determine the limited torque transmitted to said take-up roll.

4. In an intaglio printing press having a moving printing surface with engraved lines therein and means disposed adjacent the path of movement of the printing surface for applying ink to the latter; the combination of a carriage disposed adjacent said path of movement and movable toward and away from the printing surface and reciprocable laterally with respect to the direction of movement of the printing surface, at least one roller having a resilient surface and being rotatably mounted on said carriage with its axis extending laterally with respect to said direction of movement of the printing surface, a web of wiping material passing around said roller, means urging said carriage toward the printing surface so that said roller presses said web thereon against the printing surface to wipe ink from the latter, means reciprocating said carriage so that said web also moves laterally relative to the printing surface and including means dynamically balancing and counter-balancing the reciprocations of said carriage, and means rotating said roller so that said web is advanced to continuously present clean, unused portions of the web for contact with the printing surface at said roller.

5. In an intaglio printing press having a moving printing surface with engraved lines therein .and means disposed adjacent the path of movement of the printing surface for applying ink to the latter; the combination as in claim 4, wherein said means reciprocating the carriage includes a driven shaft, an adjustable eccentric on said shaft, a connecting rod between said eccentric and said carriage for converting rotation'of said driven'shaft into reciprocation of said carriage, and wherein said balancing and counter-balancing means includes at least one counterweight mass rotating with said driven shaft, an auxiliary mass mounted for reciprocation inv directions at right angles to the reciprocations of said carriage, and means actuated by said eccentric and connected to said auxiliary mass to reciprocate the latter ninety degrees out of phase with respect to the reciprocations of said carriage.

6. In an intaglio printing press having a moving printing surface with engraved lines therein and means disposed adjacent the path of movement of the printing surface for applying ink to the latter; the combination as in claim 5, wherein said adjustable eccentric includes an eccentric extension on said shaft and a hub turnable on said extension and having an eccentric outer surface receiving said connecting rod so that the total eccentricity of said outer surface of the hub relative to the axis of said shaft varies in response to turning of said hub relative to said extension, and wherein said balancing and counter-balancing means further includes a countercouple consisting of a plate cylinder having a printing surface with engraved lines therein and an impression cylinder above the plate cylinder, and means at one side of the plate cylinder applying ink to the printing surface; the combination of frame means, a support mechanism below the plate cylinder including bars extending parallel to the axis of the plate cylinder and link means pivoted on said frame means and carrying said bars for substantially vertical movement of the latter, a carriage mounted onsaid bars and slidable along the latter, means operative to reciprocate said carriage along said bars, first and second rollers rotatably mounted on said carriage with their axes parallel to the axis of the plate cylinder and disposed at opposite sides of the vertical plane containing said axis of the plate cylinder, first and second webs passed pressure responsive means acting on said link means to l0 urge said carriage upwardly so that said rollers press the related webs against the printing surface for successively removing ink from the areas of the latter between the engraved lines, and means rotating said rollers so that the related webs are advanced to continuously present clean, unused portions thereof for contact with the printing surface at said rollers, the roller closest to the means for applying ink to the printing surface being rotated at higher speed than the other of said rollers so that the speeds of advancement of said webs correspond to the rates at which the webs become saturated with ink removed from the printing surface. 8. In an intaglio printing press having a printing surface with engraved lines therein and means disposed adjacent to the path of movement of the printing surface for applying ink to the latter; the combination of a car.- riage disposed adjacent to said path of movement and movable toward and away from the printing surface and reciprocable laterally with respect to the direction of movement of the printing surface, at least one roller having a resilient surface and being rotatably mounted on said carriage with its axis extending laterally with respect to said direction of movement of the printing surface, a web of wiping material passing around said roller, means urging said carriage toward the printing surface so that said roller presses said web thereon against the printing surface to wipe ink from the latter, means for reciprocating said carriage so that said web also moves laterally with respect to said direction and including means adjustable to vary the reciprocating stroke of said carriage and means for balancing and counter-balancing the reciprov cation of said carriage for any stroke thereof produced by said reciprocating means, and means for rotating said roller so that said web is advanced to continuously present clean, unused portions of the web for contact with the printing surface. f 9. In an intaglio printing press having a printing sur- 'face with engraved lines therein and means disposed adjacent to the path of movement of the printing surface for applying ink to the latter, the combination of a carria-ge disposed `adjacent to said path of movement and movable toward and away from the printing surface and reciprocable laterally with respect to the direction of movement of the printing surface, two spaced rollers rotatably mounted on said carriage and movable with said carriage toward and away from the printing surface and laterally with respect to the direction of movement of the printing surface, each of said rollers having a resilient surface and a web of absorbent material passing thereover, means urging said carriage toward the printing sur- Yface so that said rollers press the respective web passing thereover against the printing surface to wipe and to polish said surface, means for reciprocating said carriage so that said webs also move laterally with respect to said direction, s-aid reciprocating means including means adjustable to vary the reciprocating stroke of said carriage and means dynamically balancing and counter-balancing both linear and rotational forces of said carriage and said rollers for any stroke thereof produced by said reciprocating means, and means for rotating said rollers so that said webs are advanced to continuously present clean, unused portions thereof for contact with the printing surface.

l0. In an intaglio printing press having a rotary plate cylinder with engraved lines in the surface thereof and means for applying a layer of ink to the surface; a device for removing ink from the surface of the plate cylinder while leaving ink in the engraved lines thereof, said device comprising at least lone rotatable roller disposed with its axis parallel to the axis of the plate cylinder and having a resilient surface, a web of wiping material trained over said roller surface between it and said cylinder surface, means for urging said roller toward said cylinder surface under any desired pressure within a range of wiping pressures so that said wiping material will be pressed against said cylinder surface to remove superfluous ink therefrom, said roller surface having suicient friotional engagement with jsaid web of wiping material to'move said webwith'and at the peripheral speed of Vsaid roller surface, and being Ysufficiently hard to `maintaina substantially uniform area of contact between 'said web and 'said cylinder surface under varied pressures within said range, vand driving means for continuously and positively rotating said roller so that 'said web is advanced solely by said roller and always yat the peripheral speed imparted to said roller by saiddriving means 'to bring Vunused portions of the wiping material into wiping contact with the surface of the plate cylinder.

ll. In an intaglio printing press having 'a rot-ary plate cylinder with engraved lines in the surface thereof and means for applying a layer of ink to the surface; a device ifor removing ink from the surface of the plate cylinder while leaving the ink in the engraved lines thereof, said device comprising at least one rotatable roller with its 'axis para-llel to the axis of the plate cylinder and having a vresilient surface, a web of wiping material trained over said roller surface between it and said cylinder surface, means `'for urging said roller toward said cylinder surface under any desired pressure within la range of wiping pressures so that said wiping material will be pressed against said cylinder surface to remove superfluous ink therefrom, said roller surface having suicient frictional engagement with said web of wiping material to move said web with and at the peripheral speed of said roller surface, and being sufficiently hard to maintain a substantially uniform area of contact between said web and said cylinder surface under varied pressures within said range, 'and driving means for continuously and positively rotating said roller so that said web is advanced solely by said roller and always at the peripheral speed imparted to said rol-ler by said driving means to bring unused portions of the wiping material into wiping contact with the surface of the plate cylinder, said driving means moving said roller surface in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the cylinder surface at the area of contact.

l2. I n lan intaglio printing press having a rotary plate cylinder with engraved lines in the surface thereof and means for applying a layer of ink to the surface; a device for removing ink from the surface of the plate cylinder while leaving ink in the engraved lines thereof, said device comprising =at least one rotatable roller disposed with its axis parallel to the axis of the plate cylinder and having a resilient surface, a web of wiping material trained over said roller surface between it and said cylinder surface, means for urging said roller toward said cylinder surface under any desired' pressure within a range of wiping pressures so that said wiping material will be pressed against said cylinder surface to remove superfluous ink therefrom, said roller surface having sufficient frictional engagement with said web of wiping material to move said web with and at the peripheral speed vof said roller snrface, and being suiiiciently hard to maintain a substantially uniform area of contact between said Web and Said cylinder surface under varied pressures within said range, and driving means for continuously and positively rotating said roller so that said web is advanced solely by said roller and always -at the peripheral speed imparted to said roller by said driving means to bring unused portions of the wiping material into wiping contact with the surface of the plate cylinder, said driving means being operative to rotate said roller at any of a variety of speeds.

i3. In an intaglio printing press having a rotary plate cylinder with engraved lines in the surface thereof and means for applying ya layer of ink to the surface; a device for removing ink from the surface of the plate cylinder while leaving ink in the engraved lines thereof, said device comprising at least one rotatable roller disposed with its axis parallel to the axis of the plate cylinder 4and having a resilient surface, a web of wiping material trained over said roller surface between it and said cylinder surface. means for urging Vsaid roller toward said cylinder surface under any desired pressure within Va range of wiping pressures so that said wiping material will be pressed against said cylinder surface to remove supertluous therefrom, said r'oller surface having sufficient 'frictional engagement with said web of wiping material to move said web with and at the peripheral speed of said roller surface, and beingsuciently hard to maintain a substantially 'uniform area of contact between said web and said cylinder vsurface under varied pressures within said range, driving means connected to said roller fo'r continuously land positively rotating said roller so that said web -is advanced solely by said roller and always at the peripheral speed imparted to said roller by said driving means to bring unused portions of the wiping material into wiping contact with the surface of the plate cylinder, and means for reciprocating said roller and the wiping material trained thereover in the direction of the axis 'of said roller during 'rotation of the roller by said driving means so that said wiping material and the surface of the plate cylinder move relative to each other both in the direction of the circumference of the plate cylinder and in the vdirection of the axis thereof.

14. In an intaglio printing press having a rotary plate 'cylinder with engraved lines in the surface thereof and means for applying a layer of ink to the surface; a device for removing ink from the surface of the plate cylinder while leaving ink in the engraved lines thereof, said device comprising at least one rotatable roller disposed with its axis `parallel to the axis of the plate cylinder and having a resilient surface, means supporting said roller 4for movement bodily relative to the surface of said cylinder; a web of wiping material trained over said roller surface between it and said cylinder surface, iiuid pressure responsive means Iacting continuously on said supporting means for urging said roller against the plate cylinder 'under a Apredetermined pressure, said web being friction- 'ally engaged by said roller surface to Vadvance in respons to rotation of the roller and being pressed by the roller' Surface against the surface of the plate cylinder to wipe 'superuous ink therefrom, driving means connected directly with said roller for continuously and positively rotating said 'roller so that said web is advanced solely by said roller and always at the peripheral speed imparted to said roller by said driving means, said wiping material being advanced in a circumferential direction relative tc 'said cylinder 4surface by the rotation of said roller tc bring unused portions of the web into wiping contact with the surface of the plate cylinder, and means acting on said supporting means for reciprocating said roller and said web in the direction of the axis of said roller during the rotation of said roller by said driving meant so that the web of wiping material and the surface of the plate cylinder move relative to each other in the direction of the vcircumference of theplate cylinder and in the` direction of the axis of the plate cylinder.

l15. In an 'intaglio printing 'press having -a rotary plt cylinder with engraved lines in the surface thereof auf means for applying Ia layer of ink tothe surface; a device for removing ink from the surface of the plate cylindei while leaving ink in the engraved lines thereof, said device comprising at least one rotatable roller disposer' with its axis parallel to the axis of the plate cylinder anc having la resilient surface, a web of wiping materia 'trained over said roller surface between it and said cylinder surface, means lfor urging said roller toward sait cylinder` surface under any desired pressure within t range of wiping pressures so that said wiping materia will be pressed against said cylinder surface to removi superuos ink therefrom, said roller surface having suiii cient frictional engagement with said web of wiping` material to move said web with and at the periphera 'speed of said roller surface, and being suiciently hard t( maintain a substantially uniform area of contact betweei said web and said cylinder surface under varied pressure: within said range, driving means for continuously an: positively rotating said roller so that said web is advancer solely by said roller and always at the peripheral speer imparted to said roller by said driving means to brin! 13 r unused portions of the wiping material into wiping con- :act with the surface of the plate cylinder, said driving means being operative to rotate said roller at any of a variety of speeds, means for reciprocating said roller and :he wiping material trained thereover in the direction of 11e axis of said roller during rotation of said roller by said driving means, and means for varying the speed and the stroke of the reciprocation effected by said recipro- :ating means so that said wiping material and the surface Jf the plate cylinder move relative to each other both in die direction of the circumference of the plate cylinder and in the direction of the axis thereof.

16. In an intaglio printing press having a rotary plate cylinder with engraved lines in the surface thereof and means for applying a layer of ink to the surface; a device for removing ink from the surface of the plate cylinder while leaving ink in the engraved lines thereof, said device comprising atleast one rotatable roller disposed with its axis parallel to the axis of the plate cylinder, said roller having a relatively soft resilient body that is yieldable under pressure and a relatively hard resilient cover thereon to bridge said lines and maintain an approximately uniform area of pressure against said surface, Ya web of wiping material trained over said roller surface between it and said cylinder surface, means for yieldably urging said roller toward said cylinder surface under a desired pressure so that said web will be pressed against the cylinder surface to remove ink therefrom, and driving means connected directly with said roller for continuously and positively rotating said roller to advance said web with the roller surface so that clean, unused portions of the web are brought successively into contact with the moving plate cylinder surface.

17. In an intaglio printing press having a moving printing surface with engraved lines therein and means disposed adjacent to the path of movement of the printing surface for applying ink to the surface; the combination of a first rotatable roller and a second rotatable roller disposed adjacent to said path of movement of the printing surface at spaced apart locations successively following the location of the ink applying means, considered in the direction of movement of the printing surface, and with the axes of said iirst and second rollers extending laterally with respect to said path of movement, each of said rollers having a resilient surface, first and second 5 webs of wiping material trained over the surfaces of said rst and second rollers, respectively, between said surfaces and the printing surface, means for urging said rollers toward the printing surface under any desired pressure within a range of wiping pressures so that said rst and second webs will be pressed by the related rollers against the printing surface to successively wipe ink from the printing surface and polish the printing surface, respectively, the surfaces of said rollers having suflicient frictional engagement with their respective webs of wiping material to move said webs with and at the peripheral speeds of said roller surfaces, and being sufficiently hard to maintain a substantially uniform area of contact between said webs and the printing surface under varied pressures within said range, and driving means for continuously and positively rotating said first and second rollers at relatively high and low speeds, respectively, so that said rst and second webs are advanced at relatively high and low speeds, respectively, solely by said rollers and always at the respective peripheral speeds imparted to said rollers by said driving means to bring unused portions of the webs into wiping contact with the printing surface as the material of the webs absorbs ink from the printing surface.

18. In an intaglio printing press having a moving printing surface with engraved lines therein and means disposed adjacent to the path of movement of the printing surface for applying ink to the surface; the combination of a rst rotatable roller and a second rotatable roller disposed adjacent to said path of movement of the printing surface at spaced apart locations successively followL ing the location of the ink applying means, considered in the direction of movement of the printing surface, and with the axes of said rst `and second rollers extending laterally with respect to said path of movement, each of said rollers having a resilient surface, first and second webs of wiping material trained over the surfaces of said first and second rollers, respectively, between said surfaces and the printing surface, means for urging said rollers toward the printing surface under any desired pressure within a range of wiping pressures so that said first and second webs will be pressed by the related rollers against the printing surface to successively wipe ink from the printing surface and polish the printing surface, respectively, the surfaces of said rollers having sufcient frictional engagement with their respective webs of wiping material to move said webs with and at the peripheral speeds of said roller surfaces, and being sufficiently hard to maintain a substantially uniform area of contact between said webs and the printing surface under varied pressures within said range, driving means for continuously and positively rotating said first and second rollers at relatively high and low speeds, repectively, so that said first and second webs are advanced at relatively high and low speeds, respectively, solely by said rollers and always at the respective peripheral speeds imparted to said rollers by said driving means to bring unused portions of the webs into wiping contact with the printing surface as the material of the webs absorbs ink from the printing surface, and means for reciprocating together said rollers and said webs in the direction of the axes of said rollers during rotation of said rollers by said driving means so that the webs of wiping material and the printing surface move relative to each other both in the direction of the path of movement of the printing surface and in a direction lateral with respect to said path of movement.

19. In an intaglio printing press having a moving printing surface with engraved lines therein and means disposed adjacent to the path of movement of the printing surface for applying ink to the surface; the combination of a bar having a concave surface in the form of a cylindrical arc conforming to the printing surface and adapted to bear against the same, said bar having an inkentrance surface sloping into said concave surface to guide ink into the latter so that the bar will smear ink over but will not doctor ink olf the printing surface, means yieldably urging said bar against the printing surface, and means reciproca-ting said bar transversely to the direction of movement of said printing surface to distribute ink over the printing surface and to fill said engraved lines with ink drawn from areas of said printing surface outside said lines.

20. In an intaglio printing press having a moving printing surface with engraved lines therein and means disposed adjacent to the path of movement of the printing surface for applying ink to the surface; the combination of a bar having a concave surface in the form of a cylindrical arc conforming to the printing surface and adapted to bear against the same, said bar having an ink-entrance surface sloping into said concave surface to guide ink into the latter so that the bar will smear ink over but will not doctor ink olf the printing surface, means yieldably urging said bar against the printing surface, and means reciprocating said bar transversely to the direction of movement of said printing surface to distribute ink over the printing surface and to fill said engraved lines with ink drawn from areas of said printing surface outside said lines, at least one rotatable roller disposed at a location following that of said bar in the direction of movement of said cylinder and with the axis of said roller extending laterally with respect to said direction of movement, said roller having -a surface adapted to frictionally engage and move wiping material, a web of wiping material trained over said roller, means urging said roller toward the printing surface so that said web is pressed against the printing surface to remove ink from t11e`ar`ea`s`of the latter outside the engraved lines,V and means rotating said Vroller to advance said web over ysaid roller surface`so that clean unused portions of the-web are brought successively into -contact with the printing surface atsaid roller. 7

21.V In an intaglio printing press having a moving printing surface with engraved'lines therein' and means dis; ladjacent to the path of movement of the'printing surface for lapplying ink to the surface; the combination cfa bar having a concave surface vin the form of acylindrical arc conforming to the printing surfaceV and adapted to bear against the same, said bar having an ink-entrance surface sloping into said concave surfaceto guide ink into the latter so that the bar will smear ink over but will not doctor ink off the printing surface, means yieldably urging said bar against the printing surface, at least one ro'b `tatable roller disposed at a location following that of said bar in the direction of theV path of movement of said cylinder'iand with the axis of the roller extending laterally with respect to the direction of movement along 'said path, said; roller having a surface adapted to frictionally engage andz move wiping material, a' web of wiping material trained'ove'r said roller, means urging said`rollertoward the printing surface so Athat said web is pressed against the Aprinting surface Ito remove ink from the' areas ofthe latter utside the engraved lines, means simultaneously reciproeating said bar fand said roller transversely to the direction of movement of the printing surface so that said bar distributes ink over the printing surface arid `forces 'ink into its engraved lines from areas of said printing surface outside said lines, and means rotating said roller -to` advance said web over said roller surfaceso that'clean, un-

used vportions of the web are successively presented for contact with the printing surface at said roller.

' 22. VIn an intaglio printing press having a moving Aprinting surface with lengravedli'nes therein and lmeans disposed adjacent to the path of movement of the printing surface for applying ink to the` surface; the combination of a bar having a surfaceV in the form of a cylindrical arc conforming tothe printing surface and adapted to bear against the same, at a location beyond that of said ink applying means, means yieldably urging said bar against the printing surface, a 'rst rotatable roller and a second rotatable roller dispo-sed adjacent to said path of move- Y :ment of the printing surface at spaced apart locations sucwith the axes of said first and second rollers extending `laterally with respect .to said'p'atb of movement, each of saidrollers having `a resilient surface, first and second webs of wiping material trained over the surfaces of said first and second rollers, respectively, betweenrthem and the printing surface, means for urging said rollers toward the printing surface under any desired pressure within a range of wiping pressures so that said rst and second Webs will be pressed by the related rollers against the printing surface to successively wipe ink from the printing surface and polish the printing surface, respectively, the surfaces of said rollers having sucient frictional engagement with their respective webs to move said webs with and at the peripheral speeds of said'roller surfaces, arid being suiciently hard to maintain a substantially uniform varea of contact between said webs and the printing surface under Varied pressures within said range, driving means for continuously andV positively rotating said first and' second rollers atV relatively high and low speeds, respectively, so that said webs are advanced at relatively high'and low speeds, respectively, solely by said rollers always at the respective peripheral speeds imparted tosaid rollers bysaid driving means to bring' unused` portions'of Ythe webs into wiping V.contact wtih the printing surface as the materials of thevwebs absorb ink from the printing surface, and means for reciprocating together said bar, saidv rollers and said webs in the direction .of lthe axes of Vsaid rollers during rotation of said rollers by said driving means so thatsaid bar distributes vink over the printing 'surface and forces Yink into i-ts engraved lines from areas of said printing surface outside said lines while said webs andthe printing surface move relative to each other both inthe direction of said path of movement land in a direction transverse thereto.

Great Britain Nov. 9, 1937 Patent No, 2,997,951 August 29, 1961 UNITED fSTATES PATENT. OFFICE A CERTIFICATE oE coEEEcTIoN William Huck It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 8l lines 44 and 45Y for axis of said roller extending. laterally with respect to the and disposed adjacent said path of movement with the" read and disposed adjacent said'path of movement with the axis of said roller extending laterally with respect to the Signed and sealed this th day of February 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDEE DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

